Your next main cabin fare on Delta could include a checked bag, or it could not include seat assignment. That's what it means to “unbundle” an airfare – by offering several types at different prices to fit the needs of specific travelers. And that's what Delta is going to begin testing in 2025.
Delta executives teased earlier this year that new fares might be coming to the business class cabin, but Wednesday, the airline announced it will start its new unbundling efforts in economy first.
According to Delta President Glen Hauenstein, the airline is set to begin “segmenting” the main cabin, meaning there will be more, different fare options for travelers that have fewer or more perks and add-ons depending on how much you pay.
The cabins are already somewhat segmented on Delta, as travelers have the opportunity to choose restrictive basic economy fares, more inclusive (and more expensive) Main Cabin fares, and the Comfort Plus and First Class cabins.
And then there's a little extra segmentation in Main Cabin, with a “Refundable” option that is even more expensive.
But there's more coming.
Hauenstein said the airline will add “good, better, and best” fare types in all of its cabins in the coming years, but that the economy and Comfort Plus cabins will start testing out the new unbundled offerings first, with main cabin and Comfort Plus tests beginning in 2025.
The airline is only, “experimenting with this,” Hauenstein said, but noted that travelers may see some of these fares in the new year. Delta is testing what consumers want in their bundles and will begin adding on additional attributes.
“Pay more to get more,” Hauenstein said of how the fares will work.
What About Premium Economy, First, & Biz Class?
Hauenstein said the highest potential revenue for Delta with these unbundled fares would be in domestic first class and Delta Premium Select, but those changes would come after the 2025 testing of main cabin and Comfort Plus.
But in July, Hauenstein pointed to November's Investor Day as when more details about an unbundled business class cabin would be revealed. Instead, he only announced testing on further segmentation in the economy cabin.
But in its presentation, Delta said segmentation was coming for all cabins of service, leading us to think about what that would look like exactly.
What would a “basic” business class ticket look like with Delta? What would you get – and what would you lose?
If Delta were to do this, it would be the first U.S. carrier to offer such business class fares. You can look overseas to see what Delta might do: Sell business class tickets (still for $3,000 or more roundtrip) that don't let you pick your seat for free nor even get you into a lounge beforehand.
That's exactly what airlines like Lufthansa, Emirates, and even Qatar Airways have done as they've unbundled business class tickets to sell a pared-down fare at a slightly cheaper price.
Why would Delta – or any airline – sell business class fares for thousands of dollars apiece yet cheap travelers out of seat selection or lounge access? Because they can … and more importantly, because it makes the airline more money.
Don't expect a big bargain on a lie-flat seat as a result. This would merely add insult to injury for the Delta flyers already paying thousands of dollars (or hundreds of thousands of SkyMiles) to book a Delta One seat.
Today, anyone buying a $3,000-some Delta One ticket gets to pick where they sit for free and visit a Delta Sky Club before boarding – or, better yet, the exclusive new Delta One business class lounge in New York City (JFK). Whenever these unbundled fares go live, Delta could start selling them for $3,000, charging another few hundred bucks for the fully inclusive business class fares – or charge basic business buyers separately for seat assignment or lounge access.
Assuming Delta excludes lounge access from business class fares, that could also be part of its strategy to ensure its Delta One Lounge in New York City (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) – and future business class lounges planned for Boston (BOS), Seattle (SEA) and the rest of Delta's interior hubs don't get swamped. Wednesday, executives said all of the airline's Delta One Lounges will be open by 2030.
While its first business class lounge in New York is getting top marks from travelers since opening last month, it's also reportedly regularly packed inside.
Delta might be the first to sell unbundled fares at the front of the plane. But in the monkey-see, monkey-do airline industry, it's likely only a matter of time before this setup spreads to the likes of American and United.
Bottom Line
Delta Air Lines will begin testing new fare types in main cabin and Comfort Plus in 2025, offering less-inclusive fares at lower price points and amenity-rich fares at higher price points in both cabins.
While it appeared Delta would announce a segmentation of its business class cabin, the airline said it would start with economy, with the first tests beginning in 2025.
